GRANBY — Chloe Denhart picked a side. The Northampton keeper guessed right, and it may have won the Blue Devils their season opener against the Granby girls soccer team Thursday.
The Rams earned a penalty kick 12 minutes into the game after a Northampton handball in the box and sent Molly Zumbruski to the spot. She struck the ball well low and right, but Denhart dove into its path and batted the ball away.
“I just picked a side and hoped it would go to that side,” Denhart said. “Luckily it did.”
It was one of six saves the senior made, earning the clean sheet in a 1-0 victory. Denhart played forward last season and finished second on the team with 13 goals
“She’s versatile. You can put her any position on the field, she’s gonna give you 110 percent and play it more than that,” Northampton coach Vanessa Butynski said. “That save created our ability to win that game and shut their feelings down. She’s a captain for a reason. That’s a big save.”
The Blue Devils (1-0) created chances to break the deadlock for most of the game but couldn’t break through until the dying minutes. Freshman Olive Little found senior Carolynn Skubiszewski alone in the penalty box. Skubiszewski settled it enough and directed the ball into the back of the net with three minutes left for what proved the game winner.
“If we gave up, nothing was going to happen,” Skubiszewski said. “Keep taking shots. One after another after another. One’s bound to go in.”
While the result wasn’t how the Rams (0-1) wanted to start the season, Granby gained valuable experience for its young team.
“A lot of young kids matured, so that’s a good thing,” Granby coach Bob Weaver said. “Build from it. The young ones got a taste of a good soccer program.”
Easthampton 8, Renaissance 1 — The Eagles built a 5-0 halftime cushion and rolled to a decisive win on Thursday thanks to a hat trick from Abby McClaflin.
Maria Belfakih, Hannah Neumann, Raegan Delisle, Ana Growhowski and Mona Young all tallied for Easthampton. Belfakih had a pair of assists and goalie Addie Barr made two saves.
Amherst 7, Springfield Charter 1 – Maddie Hockman and Selma Keochkian each scored twice with an assist, as the Hurricanes rolled to open the season.
Zola Higham, Charlotte Serhant (assist) and Moriah Luetjen also found the net once, while Akile Phakos and Eleanor Jacoby both contributed an assist for Amherst.
Brooke Weinman saved three shots, while Neena Chinappa stopped two for Amherst.
Frontier 3, Holyoke 2 — Tied 1-1 at the half, the Redhawks were able to outscore the Purple Knights 2-1 in the final 40 minutes to come away with a 3-2 victory in South Deerfield on Thursday.
Hannah Mackin, Kylie Laford and Madelyn Fagan were the Frontier goal scorers, with Sydney Tor and Maggie McDermot-Whtie picking up assists. Cady Wells-Robinson made seven saves in the win.
Tryana Ayala and Yasani Thompson found the back of the net for Holyoke, with Thompson recording an assist. Jayvah Stuckey made five saves in the loss.
Smith Voc 5, Commerce 0 – Caitlin Willard played a part in four of Smith Voc’s five goals on Thursday, netting a hat trick and adding an assist in the victory.
Jayanna Daniels scored the game’s lone goal in the first half, and Monique Fredette picked up the other tally for the Vikings.
Jenna Pratt, Megan Courtney, Emileigh Pause and Santina Gagliardi finished with an assist apiece, and Smith Voc keeper Maggie Lauder made three saves to earn the shutout.
Drury 6, Gateway 0 – Gators keeper Jayliana Rivera made 13 saves in the loss.
Hopkins Academy 4, Lee 0 — Kasey Earle tallied twice, and the Golden Hawks scored a pair in each half to blank Lee on Thursday.
Chloe Kosciusco and Helen Vissas also scored for Hopkins Academy, with Vissas and Morgan Augustin notching assists. Cassidy Fyden stopped all three shots she faced for the shutout, as Hopkins held a 31-3 edge in shots.
McCann 7, PVCICS 1 – Eliza Speek netted the Dragons goal in their opener.
South Hadley 4, Mt. Everett 0 — Two more goals from Charlie Anischik powered the Tigers to a second win over a Berkshire County school in a three-day span.
South Hadley (2-0) also received a pair of goals from Moki Kovacs, while assists were credited to Ben Foley, Adam Campbell, Carlos David and Braden Joy. Goalie Eddie Wykowski made five saves for the club’s first shutout of the season.
Belchertown 1, Minnechaug 1 — Jack Holt gave the Orioles a halftime lead, but the Falcons tied it in the second half to salvage a 1-1 draw on Thursday.
Kaden Houle assisted on Holt’s goal, and Belchertown keeper Matt Devoto made four saves.
Granby 2, Hopkins 1 — Robert L’Abbee netted the game-winning goal on a penalty kick in the 61st minute for the Rams.
L’Abbee tallied both goals for the Rams, including a strike with an assist from Riley Goodhind in the 26th minute.
Hopkins’ Teddy Cyr gave his side a 1-0 lead in the first half with a goal from Patrick Fitzgibbons.
Granby keeper Daniel Gauvin made five saves, including a penalty kick in the second half to keep it a 1-1 game. Hopkins goalie Ryder Gallo-O’Connell made eight saves.
Amherst 2, East Longmeadow 2 — Ian Buchanan and Oliver Lewis-Horlitz tallied for the Hurricanes in a road draw.
Assists were credited to Patrick Staudenmayer and Henry Lepak.
Sports writer Hannah Bevis contributed to this report.